School Supplies and Clothes to Refugees from Darfur, Sudan in Eastern Chad

- Young Darfurian refugee in eastern Chad, July 2007

In response to the large refugee influxes from Sudan and the Central African Republic in 2003 and 2004 and a prevailing concern for the protection of refugees in Chad, UNHCR has established a multi-sectoral programme composed of basic assistance and protection activities. The programme in the eastern region is based on four main pillars: protection; socio-economic well being of refugees; self -reliance income generation; and community based approach with host communities. At all times, UNHCR seeks to work in close collaboration with local and traditional authorities, building their capacity wherever possible and supporting their efforts to assist both refugee and IDP populations. It is also based on the premise that repatriation to the Sudan is highly unlikely to occur within the next calendar year.

Living in a very fragile socio-economic situation – scarcity of natural resources, frequent armed conflict and confrontation, harsh climatic conditions, widespread poverty, inadequate infrastructure – refugees in Chad require considerable support from the humanitarian community. This support encompasses environmental awareness; health and sanitation improvements; the reduction of traditional practices such as female genital mutilation; accessibility to education; and adequate infrastructure for basic services.

Recurrent attacks along the border – whether inter-ethnic, rebel-based or general opportunistic banditry pose great risks to both the host populations as well as the Darfuri refugees living in the region. Maintaining a civilian and humanitarian character within the refugee camps has been fundamental not only to support the development of protection activities, but also to facilitate multi-sectoral assistance. Instances of forced recruitment and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) coupled with an environment of impunity for criminal or violent acts, an inadequate, under-performing legal infrastructure and a widespread institutional lack of consideration for human rights, makes protection in Chad very challenging work.

2 Front Uni pour le Changement

Mile and Kounougou refugee camps near Guereda, Eastern Chad combined host a refugee population just shy of 30,000 people. Of this total group, nearly half are school-aged children (13,459) distributed over just 106 classrooms many of which are in serious need of repair or replacement. The current student-classroom ratio in Eastern Chad hovers around 95:1, far above the internationally accepted 40:1 benchmark.

A joint UNHCR-UNICEF-Ministry of Education evaluation report on education that was released just prior to the distribution of the donated materials highlighted these difficulties and more in its assessment of the state of education in Eastern Chad refugee camps. It cited the lack of materials as one of the prime causes of teacher frustrations and eventual teacher shortages in the camps. On top of that the report underlined the need to assure that each school-aged child has access to 2-6 cahiers and the necessary number of pens for each school year, depending on their grade level. It also highlights the need for textbooks and education games to be left at the disposal of teachers in these sites.

In accordance with the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UNHCR and its partners are working to achieve the minimum benchmark standards for education in the harsh Eastern Chad environment. Not only is it the right of every child to have access to an acceptable standard of education, but it also provides them protection as they are less likely to join armed groups or engage in criminal activities if they are concentrating on building a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

The community at large lives in a very harsh, desert climate with limited access to agriculture and other livelihood activities. The dependence of these people on the humanitarian aid is extensive and their ability to purchase goods from market is limited. Clothing and shoes wear out frequently in this climate where temperatures hit extremes in both directions depending on the season. The amount of money that is available for the purchase of clothing goods and supplies is quite limited. Much of the new clothing they receive comes through private donors and aid groups.

The reactions of refugees were particularly warm to these goods since they arrived through a Darfurian association abroad. Many of them took to proudly describing the distribution as being "the donation from our brothers" who were thinking of them in spite of living in the United States.

The school supplies donated were greatly appreciated by the youth who now will have enough materials to last them through the academic year. Educational materials are in great need in refugee camps across Chad – whether it is in the East or South – and their absence in the past has too often proven to be a serious barrier to educational progression.

With regard to the clothing, the amount of money available to refugees for the purchase of these types of goods is very limited. Through the donation of clothing, the money they have budgeted or saved through income-generation activities like sewing and carpentry may be diverted to new areas of their lives or re-invested in any small business activities they may be engaged in. As mentioned earlier, the climate in Eastern Chad and particularly its northern regions including Guereda is extremely harsh and unforgiving. Keeping warm and protected from the elements has genuine impacts on their health and well-being.

It was a particularly unique donation for the refugees in the sense that they understood, through the presence of M. Deffalah Rahama, the link that it brings between the two communities.The very generous donation from Ms. Paolercio was warmly received by refugees in the two camps and this act of generosity has touched many refugee families living in the two camps. It is a donation that the children and families will certainly not easily forget.

UNHCR and its partner organisations highly appreciate the generosity and thoughtfulness of Ms. Paolercio and the Darfur Peoples Association in New York. The need for sufficient educational materials and clothing throughout Chad is enormous and the satisfaction of these needs cannot be achieved solely through the UNHCR or any other humanitarian organization without the kind and substantial support of private donors. Refugee emergencies are still a recurrent phenomenon within humanitarian operations in this country and UNHCR continues to assist newly arrived refugees both in eastern and southern Chad and depends greatly on the continued assistance of concerned members of the international community – private or public.